August
2005 - RSF Reporters Without BordersPress Release
 'International
Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal' report |
This
report is based on the findings of the 'International Press Freedom and
Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal' in mid-July 2005, which included
the following organisations : ARTICLE 19 Committee to Protect Journalists
(CPJ) International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) International Media
Support (IMS) International Press Institute (IPI) Press Institute of India
(PII) Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) South Asian Free Media Association
(SAFMA) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation
(UNESCO) World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) World
Association of Newspapers (WAN) World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC)
Media
Rights and Freedom of Expression During the past decade and a half, the
media in Nepal has played an integral part in promoting peace, democracy,
development and good governance. However, since the state of emergency
was imposed in the country on 1 February 2005 -- and despite the fact that
it was subsequently lifted on 29 April 2005 -- the press freedom and freedom
of expression situation in the country has continued to deteriorate. Since
February 2005, the national media community has been engaged in a number
of exemplary and dynamic efforts in defence of these freedoms and rights.
Nevertheless, despite these efforts, press freedom and freedom of expression
continue to be infringed upon by all combatant parties in the conflict.
Harassment,
Detentions and Disappearances Media practitioners and freedom of expression
advocates across the country continue to be subject to killings, violent
attacks, intimidation, harassment and displacement by both the government
and the Maoists. Moreover, media practitioners and others continue to "disappear"
or be detained and imprisoned for the free expression of their opinions.
Media practitioners are protected under national and international law
and agreements and those who violate these must be held accountable and
prosecuted.
Media
Policy and Legislation A media environment based on international norms
and standards, as enshrined in the 1990 Constitution and other legislation,
needs to be preserved and respected, with particular reference to the restoration
of civil liberties and fundamental rights after the lifting of the state
of emergency. In this regard, the lack of transparency by the state authorities
and security forces in dealing with media and freedom of expression issues
is of serious concern, as would be the introduction of any new media ordinance,
decision or ruling that would alter or override existing media-related
legislation.
Direct
and Indirect Censorship A number of direct and indirect forms of censorship
are being applied against the media in Nepal. In particular, this includes
interference in editorial independence, the prejudiced allocation of state
advertising, pressure on commercial entities not to advertise with particular
media, increases in postage costs for print media, disruption of print
media distribution and the threat of non-renewal of broadcast licenses.
In addition, reported "coercive measures", such as firing particular editors
and journalists, are being applied against media institutions as conditions
for continuing to operate.
FM
and Community Radio FM and community radio in Nepal has to date been a
leader in the field of community broadcasting in South Asia. However, contrary
to the Constitution, the Supreme Court decisions and national legislation
guaranteeing press freedom and freedom of expression, radio stations in
Nepal are currently under a de-facto ban for broadcasting news. Despite
claims by Government officials to the contrary, FM and community radio
stations in many countries around the world broadcast news. This ban in
Nepal is depriving the population of free access to information, threatening
the financial viability of FM and community radio, as well as causing large-scale
unemployment for radio journalists and broadcasters.
District
Media The conditions faced by the local media in districts across the country
are particularly harsh. Whilst all of the media community has been subject
to killings, attacks, disappearances, intimidation, harassment, detention
and displacement, this has been particularly severe in areas outside of
the Kathmandu Valley. In such locations the media often finds itself caught
between the combatant parties and under pressure to censor or alter the
content of despatches and reports so that it is perceived to be more favourable
to one side or the other. Moreover, media facilities and infrastructures
are more vulnerable to being shut down, deliberately damaged or removed
by one of the combatant sides. The recent emergence of armed "vigilante
groups" in certain districts also poses a serious threat to media practitioners
and freedom of expression advocates, as well as press freedoms and freedom
of expression in general.
August
2005 - WAN Press Release
International
Media Groups Call for Press Freedom in Nepal |
An
international press freedom mission to Nepal concluded Monday that press
freedom and freedom of expression have significantly deteriorated, despite
the lifting of a State of Emergency in April.
The
mission of 12 international organisations, including the World Association
of Newspapers, called on the Nepalese government and the Communist Party
of Nepal (Maoists) to respect press freedom and to end all censorship and
attacks on journalists immediately.
"All
combatants in the conflict have been responsible for abusing and contravening
press freedom and freedom of expression," said the mission participants,
which included United Nations agencies, global media associations, freedom
of expression advocates and media development organisations.
In
a statement released Monday, the mission said it was particularly concerned
about the repression of community radio stations, which have borne the
brunt of censorship, attacks and detentions in the largely rural conflict
between the government and the Maoists.
The
week-long mission included meetings with government ministers, senior officers
in the Royal Nepal Army, civil society representatives and a cross section
of the media community.
The
twelve organisations participating in the mission were: UNESCO, World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters - AMARC, ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect
Journalists, International Federation of Journalists, International Media
Support, International Press Institute, Press Institute of India, Reporters
sans Frontières, South Asian Free Media Association, World Association
of Newspapers, and the World Press Freedom Committee
The
Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends
and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers;
its membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual
newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional
and world-wide press groups.
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